The massive ordnance air blast ( the MOAB acronym inspired the nickname Mother of All Bombs) explodes in air and creates a massive shock wave. It's 30 feet long, weighs 21,000 pounds and is dropped from a C-130 cargo plane. Military officials think the psychological impact of the massive blast is as important as its destructive capability.

According to Fiscal Times, the bomb cost more than $300 million to develop and each one costs $16 million.